Month: July 2016

Here are some examples of some yarn bowls we are experimenting with. These are used by people who knit to hold there ball of yarn in place while they pull the end string… These will be selling for $35 – $45 depending on the size. We are in the process of experimenting with different types of glazes and glaze techniques.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you enjoy these posts, click the “follow” button to receive notifications of new posts. If you are interested in a yarn bowl, go to http://www.customwoodcarvings.com and go to the contact page to get in touch…

If you have a loved one or a pet or a coworker that you would like to honor with a permanent, enduring memorial, consider a custom portrait bust. I will work with you one on one using pictures and a sketch to create a life size, believable portrait out of clay and finished with a patina that looks like a bronze casting. A life size portrait starts at $1800 and the price can go up from there depending on design details.Visit my official website www.customwoodcarvings.com and click the “contact” tab to get in touch with me about your project ideas.

A few shots of one of my creations.

A few more of my student works!

If you enjoy viewing these posts, consider subscribing to this blog by clicking the ”follow” button on top of the side column. You will then get an email telling you each time I’ve posted something new!

One of the mediums to create sculpture is epoxy clay. This clay is used for sculpture and taxidermy and gives you about a 2 hr. work time before it starts to harden. the advantage is it dries to a very durable, hard plastic without the need for a kiln. Once cured it is grindable and sandable and can be added to with more clay. It is a perfect medium for small, detailed sculptures or prototypes like this mad hatter. This customer, (A soldier in Afghanistan), sent me a picture of this mad hatter design that has two hats. The large hat comes off to reveal a smaller hat with an engagement ring in it. A clever idea… Here are some pics to show the process.

Once the details were complete, it could be painted with multiple coats of acrylic paint and finished with a clear coat satin spray.

Last time, I posted what the lamp base looked like before it was fired and with color. Thankfully, the clay fired without any problems and I was ready for painting. First, I watered down some house paint as a gesso and painted all the surfaces to seal them. Next, I used acrylic paints (I borrowed my daughter’s paints) and mixed the colors to match the original. Then I sprayed it with a glossy clear coat and glued some felt to the bottom so it wouldn’t scratch. Finally, I attached the lamp hardware and lampshade and delivered it to the happy customer!

This picture shows my replica on the left and the original on the right….

Thank you for looking at this post. If you would like to have something made, simply contact me by going to my official web site, www.customwoodcarvings.com and click the contact page.

I have the honor of memorializing this customers father who recently passed. Working from around 10 different pictures of his father, I started with a Styrofoam inside and built up epoxy clay (magic sculpt) on top of that…

Getting close… The customer asked for a few more adjustments, so here are the changes with those adjustments…

The final step is to apply the finish which looks like cast bronze…

Step 1 – Paint in a black/brown color

Step 2 – Lightly brush in metallic wax

Step 3 – Layer the black/brown color over the metallic wax with a little aqua green for an oxidized look. Photos can’t capture the luminescence of the metallic wax accurately. It looks much better live…

Thanks for looking! If you have a sculpture you would like made, get in touch at www.customwoodcarvings.com If you like these posts, consider “following” this blog to get email notifications…

It’s nice to take a break from the wood carving to work in different media. This sculpture was commissioned by a customer who saw this original sculpture in Monaco France and was so touched by it, he had me make him one that he could enjoy in his home.

I started by making the boat out of rigid foam and the girl out of ceramic clay. (Yikes! I look tired and mean in this picture, sorry!)

Next, the foam coat went over the foam to give a hard shell of protection. Then I went over the foam coat with several layers of West System epoxy until it was fairly smooth and uniform… In the meantime, I finished the ceramic girl and let her dry for two weeks and she fired without a problem. You have to construct her with a hollow center, otherwise the clay will be too thick and…

The master blacksmith from Old School Crafts in Mount Vernon MO ordered these life size chimp molds to use in his foundry. The molds will enable him to create the chimps in bronze using the traditional lost wax technique. Check out his fantastic work at oldschoolcrafts.org

First, a sketch was drawn up according to his specs…

Then, some small clay sketches were made to work out the forms…

Next, the life sized detailed sculptures are built…

Monkey #2

Monkey #3

Next, the silicone mold is applied in multiple layers… Here it is being applied to the architectural base.

Next, some dams with key marks are made in several areas to allow easier mold release. Then, a resin “mother mold” is applied over the silicone to create a hard, protective and supportive shell for the soft silicone mold.

PRICING

So, this is the final major test before marketing these mugs… The mugs were dipped in different glazes and then sprayed with a second complimentary colored glaze. All glazes are lead free and food safe. Then, carefully placed in the kiln and fired to around 2250 F (Cone 6 for pottery nerds.) Here are the results…

The following are the names and results of the glaze experiments so far…

Below is “Hot Chocolate” glaze

Below is “Mountain Mist” glaze

Below is “Creamsicle” glaze

Below is “Green Apple” glaze

Below is “Hazel” glaze

Below is “Iced Coffee” glaze

Below is “Sea Glass” glaze

Below is “Lavender Fields” glaze

Below is “Frothy Chocolate” glaze

Below is “Blue Moon” glaze

Here is a row of experiments with sizes, logos and glazes…

PRICING

At this point, the pricing structure goes like this… Each order has a one time stamp fee of $100 and the…